Method and system for HSDPA maximum ratio combination (MRC) and equalization switching

ABSTRACT

Aspects of a method and system for a single antenna receiver system for HSDPA are provided. Aspects of a system for processing RF signals, the method may comprise a cluster path processor that computes channel estimates based on at least one of a plurality of received individual distinct path signals. An equalizer may equalize at least one of the plurality of distinct path signals. A maximum ratio combiner may combine at least one of the plurality of distinct path signals. A signal to noise averaging processor may compute at least one estimated signal to noise ratio. An HSDPA switch may select either the equalized plurality of individual distinct path signals, or the combined plurality of individual distinct path signals based on at least one computed signal to noise ratio.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application makes reference, claims priority to, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/616,905 filed Oct. 6, 2004.

This application is related to the following applications, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes:

-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,870 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/174,304 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,502 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,964 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,252 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/174,252 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/172,756 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,305 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/172,759 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,689 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,304 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,129 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/172,779 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/172,702 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,727 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,726 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/172,781 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/174,067 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,854 filed Jun. 30, 2005; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,911 filed Jun. 30, 2005; and -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/174,403 filed Jun. 30, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to communication receivers. More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a method and system for HSDPA maximum ratio combination (MRC) and equalization switching.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile communications has changed the way people communicate and mobile phones have been transformed from a luxury item to an essential part of every day life. The use of mobile phones is today dictated by social situations, rather than hampered by location or technology. While voice connections fulfill the basic need to communicate, and mobile voice connections continue to filter even further into the fabric of every day life, the mobile Internet is the next step in the mobile communication revolution. The mobile Internet is poised to become a common source of everyday information, and easy, versatile mobile access to this data will be taken for granted.

Third generation (3G) cellular networks have been specifically designed to fulfill these future demands of the mobile Internet. As these services grow in popularity and usage, factors such as cost efficient optimization of network capacity and quality of service (QoS) will become even more essential to cellular operators than it is today. These factors may be achieved with careful network planning and operation, improvements in transmission methods, and advances in receiver techniques. To this end, carriers need technologies that will allow them to increase downlink throughput and, in turn, offer advanced QoS capabilities and speeds that rival those delivered by cable modem and/or DSL service providers. In this regard, networks based on wideband CDMA (WCDMA) technology may make the delivery of data to end users a more feasible option for today's wireless carriers.

FIG. 1 a is a technology timeline indicating evolution of existing WCDMA specification to provide increased downlink throughput. Referring to FIG. 1 a, there is shown data rate spaces occupied by various wireless technologies, including General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) 100, Enhanced Data rates for GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) Evolution (EDGE) 102, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) 104, and High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) 106.

The GPRS and EDGE technologies may be utilized for enhancing the data throughput of present second generation (2G) systems such as GSM. The GSM technology may support data rates of up to 14.4 kilobits per second (Kbps), while the GPRS technology, introduced in 2001, may support data rates of up to 115 Kbps by allowing up to 8 data time slots per time division multiple access (TDMA) frame. The GSM technology, by contrast, may allow one data time slot per TDMA frame. The EDGE technology, introduced in 2003, may support data rates of up to 384 Kbps. The EDGE technology may utilizes 8 phase shift keying (8-PSK) modulation for providing higher data rates than those that may be achieved by GPRS technology. The GPRS and EDGE technologies may be referred to as “2.5G” technologies.

The UMTS technology, introduced in 2003, with theoretical data rates as high as 2 Mbps, is an adaptation of the WCDMA 3G system by GSM. One reason for the high data rates that may be achieved by UMTS technology stems from the 5MHz WCDMA channel bandwidths versus the 200 KHz GSM channel bandwidths. The HSDPA technology is an Internet protocol (IP) based-service, oriented for data communications, which adapts WCDMA to support data transfer rates on the order of 10 megabits per second (Mbits/s). Developed by the 3G Partnership Project (3GPP) group, the HSDPA technology achieves higher data rates through a plurality of methods. For example, many transmission decisions may be made at the base station level, which is much closer to the user equipment as opposed to being made at a mobile switching center or office. These may include decisions about the scheduling of data to be transmitted, when data is to be retransmitted, and assessments about the quality of the transmission channel. The HSDPA technology may also utilize variable coding rates. The HSDPA technology may also support 16-level quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) over a high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH), which permits a plurality of users to share an air interface channel

In some instances, HSDPA may provide a two-fold improvement in network capacity as well as data speeds up to five times (over 10 Mbit/s) higher than those in even the most advanced 3G networks. HSDPA may also shorten the roundtrip time between network and terminal, while reducing variances in downlink transmission delay. These performance advances may translate directly into improved network performance and higher subscriber satisfaction. Since HSDPA is an extension of the GSM family, it also builds directly on the economies of scale offered by the world's most popular mobile technology. HSDPA may offer breakthrough advances in WCDMA network packet data capacity, enhanced spectral and radio access networks (RAN) hardware efficiencies, and streamlined network implementations. Those improvements may directly translate into lower cost-per-bit, faster and more available services, and a network that is positioned to compete more effectively in the data-centric markets of the future.

The capacity, quality and cost/performance advantages of HSDPA yield measurable benefits for network operators, and, in turn, their subscribers. For operators, this backwards-compatible upgrade to current WCDMA networks is a logical and cost-efficient next step in network evolution. When deployed, HSDPA may co-exist on the same carrier as the current WCDMA Release 99 services, allowing operators to introduce greater capacity and higher data speeds into existing WCDMA networks. Operators may leverage this solution to support a considerably higher number of high data rate users on a single radio carrier. HSDPA makes true mass-market mobile IP multimedia possible and will drive the consumption of data-heavy services while at the same time reducing the cost-per-bit of service delivery, thus boosting both revenue and bottom-line network profits. For data-hungry mobile subscribers, the performance advantages of HSDPA may translate into shorter service response times, less delay and faster perceived connections. Users may also download packet-data over HSDPA while conducting a simultaneous speech call.

HSDPA may provide a number of significant performance improvements when compared to previous or alternative technologies. For example, HSDPA extends the WCDMA bit rates up to 10 Mbps, achieving higher theoretical peak rates with higher-order modulation (16-QAM) and with adaptive coding and modulation schemes. The maximum QPSK bit rate is 5.3 Mbit/s and 10.7 Mbit/s with 16-QAM. Theoretical bit rates of up to 14.4 Mbit/s may be achieved with no channel coding. The terminal capability classes range from 900 kbit/s to 1.8 Mbit/s with QPSK modulation, and 3.6 Mbit/s and up with 16-QAM modulation. The highest capability class supports the maximum theoretical bit rate of 14.4 Mbit/s.

However, implementing advanced wireless technologies such as WCDMA and/or HSDPA may still require overcoming some architectural hurdles. For example, the RAKE receiver is the most commonly used receiver in CDMA systems, mainly due to its simplicity and reasonable performance and WCDMA Release 99 networks are designed so that RAKE receivers may be used. A RAKE receiver contains a bank of spreading sequence correlators, each receiving an individual multipath. A RAKE receiver operates on multiple discrete paths. The received multipath signals can be combined in several ways, from which maximal ratio combining (MRC) is preferred in a coherent receiver. However, a RAKE receiver may be suboptimal in many practical systems, for example, its performance may degrade from multiple access interference (MAI), that is, interference induced by other users in the network.

In the case of a WCDMA downlink, MAI may result from inter-cell and intracell interference. The signals from neighboring base stations compose intercell interference, which is characterized by scrambling codes, channels and angles of arrivals different from the desired base station signal. Spatial equalization may be utilized to suppress inter-cell interference. In a synchronous downlink application, employing orthogonal spreading codes, intra-cell interference may be caused by multipath propagation. Due to the non-zero cross-correlation between spreading sequences with arbitrary time shifts, there is interference between propagation paths (or RAKE fingers) after despreading, causing MAI. The level of intra-cell interference depends strongly on the channel response. In nearly flat fading channels, the physical channels remain almost completely orthogonal and intra-cell interference does not have any significant impact on the receiver performance. On the other hand, the performance of the RAKE receiver may be severely deteriorated by intra-cell interference in frequency selective channels. Frequency selectivity is common for the channels in WCDMA networks.

Due to the difficulties faced when non-linear channel equalizers are applied to the WCDMA downlink, detection of the desired physical channel with a non-linear equalizer may result in implementing an interference canceller or optimal multi-user receiver. Both types of receivers may be prohibitively complex for mobile terminals and may require information not readily available at the mobile terminal. Alternatively, the total base station signal may be considered as the desired signal. However, non-linear equalizers rely on prior knowledge of the constellation of the desired signal, and this information is not readily available at the WCDMA terminal. The constellation of the total base station signal, that is, sum of all physical channels, is a high order quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) constellation with uneven spacing. The spacing of the constellation changes constantly due to transmission power control (TPC) and possible power offsets between the control data fields, time-multiplexed to the dedicated physical channels. The constellation order may also frequently change due to discontinuous transmission. This makes an accurate estimation of the constellation practically impossible.

In this regard, the use of multiple transmit and/or receive antennas may result in an improved overall system performance. These multi-antenna configurations, also known as smart antenna techniques, may be utilized to mitigate the negative effects of multipath and/or signal interference on signal reception. It is anticipated that smart antenna techniques may be increasingly utilized both in connection with the deployment of base station infrastructure and mobile subscriber units in cellular systems to address the increasing capacity demands being placed on those systems. These demands arise, in part, from a shift underway from current voice-based services to next-generation wireless multimedia services that provide voice, video, and data communication.

The utilization of multiple transmit and/or receive antennas is designed to introduce a diversity gain and to suppress interference generated within the signal reception process. Such diversity gains improve system performance by increasing received signal-to-noise ratio, by providing more robustness against signal interference, and/or by permitting greater frequency reuse for higher capacity. In communication systems that incorporate multi-antenna receivers, a set of M receive antennas may be utilized to null the effect of (M-1) interferers, for example. Accordingly, N signals may be simultaneously transmitted in the same bandwidth using N transmit antennas, with the transmitted signal then being separated into N respective signals by way of a set of N antennas deployed at the receiver. Systems that utilize multiple transmit and receive antennas may be referred to as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. One attractive aspect of multi-antenna systems, in particular MIMO systems, is the significant increase in system capacity that may be achieved by utilizing these transmission configurations. For a fixed overall transmitted power, the capacity offered by a MIMO configuration may scale with the increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). For example, in the case of fading multipath channels, a MIMO configuration may increase system capacity by nearly M additional bits/cycle for each 3-dB increase in SNR.

However, the widespread deployment of multi-antenna systems in wireless communications, particularly in wireless handset devices, has been limited by the increased cost that results from increased size, complexity, and power consumption. Providing a separate RF chain for each transmit and receive antenna is a direct factor that increases the cost of multi-antenna systems. Each RF chain generally comprises a low noise amplifier (LNA), a filter, a downconverter, and an analog-to-digital converter (A/D). In certain existing single-antenna wireless receivers, the single required RF chain may account for over 30% of the receiver's total cost. It is therefore apparent that as the number of transmit and receive antennas increases, the system complexity, power consumption, and overall cost may increase. This poses problems for mobile system designs and applications.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for single antenna receiver system for HSDPA, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a technology timeline indicating the evolution of the existing WCDMA specification to provide increased downlink throughput, in connection with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 b illustrates an exemplary HSDPA distributed architecture that achieves low delay link adaptation, in connection with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 c illustrates an exemplary Layer 1 HARQ control situated in a base station to remove retransmission-related scheduling and storing from the radio network controller, in connection with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 d is a chart illustrating exemplary average carried loads for HSDPA-based macrocell and microcell systems, in connection with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 a is a block diagram of an exemplary system for HSDPA maximum ratio combination and equalization switching, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 b is a block diagram illustrating exemplary MRC operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flow chart of steps in output selection for a single antenna receiver system for HSDPA, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for HSDPA maximum ratio combination and equalization switching. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the HSDPA maximum ratio combination and equalization switching system may be utilized to optimize modem performance based on MRC/EQ switching and pilot filter bandwidth setting as a function of channel conditions. The invention may also provide optimized modem performance with the use of channel estimation for multiple receive antennas as illustrated in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/173964 filed Jun. 30, 2005, and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/173964 filed Jun. 30, 2005 and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIG. 1 b illustrates an exemplary HSDPA distributed architecture that achieves low delay link adaptation, in connection with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 b, there is shown terminals 110 and 112 and a base station (BS) 114. HSDPA is built on a distributed architecture that achieves low delay link adaptation by placing key processing at the BS 114 and thus closer to the air interface as illustrated. HSDPA leverages methods that are well established within existing GSM/EDGE standards, including fast physical layer (L1) retransmission combining and link adaptation techniques, to deliver significantly improved packet data throughput performance between the mobile terminals 110 and 112 and the BS 114.

The HSDPA technology employs several important new technological advances. Some of these may comprise scheduling for the downlink packet data operation at the BS 114, higher order modulation, adaptive modulation and coding, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), physical layer feedback of the instantaneous channel condition, and a new transport channel type known as high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) that allows several users to share the air interface channel. When deployed, HSDPA may co-exist on the same carrier as the current WCDMA and UMTS services, allowing operators to introduce greater capacity and higher data speeds into existing WCDMA networks. HSDPA replaces the basic features of WCDMA, such as variable spreading factor and fast power control, with adaptive modulation and coding, extensive multicode operation, and fast and spectrally efficient retransmission strategies.

In current-generation WCDMA networks, power control dynamics are on the order of 20 dB in the downlink and 70 dB in the uplink. WCDMA downlink power control dynamics are limited by potential interference between users on parallel code channels and by the nature of WCDMA base station implementations. For WCDMA users close to the base station, power control cannot reduce power optimally, and reducing power beyond the 20 dB may therefore have only a marginal impact on capacity. HSDPA, for example, utilizes advanced link adaptation and adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) to ensure all users enjoy the highest possible data rate. AMC therefore adapts the modulation scheme and coding to the quality of the appropriate radio link.

FIG. 1 c illustrates an exemplary Layer 1 HARQ control situated in a base station to remove retransmission-related scheduling and storing from the radio network controller, in connection with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 c, there is shown a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) operation, which is an operation designed to reduce the delay and increase the efficiency of retransmissions. Layer 1 HARQ control is situated in the Node B, or base station (BS), 122 thus removing retransmission-related scheduling and storing from the radio network controller (RNC) 120. This HARQ approach avoids hub delay and measurably reduces the resulting retransmission delay.

For example, when a link error occurs, due to signal interference or other causes, a mobile terminal 124 may request the retransmission of the data packets. While current-generation WCDMA networks handle those retransmission requests through the radio network controller 120, HSDPA retransmission requests are managed at the base station 122. Furthermore, received packets are combined at the physical (PHY) layer and retrieved only if successfully decoded. If decoding has failed, the new transmission is combined with the old transmission before channel decoding. The HSDPA approach allows previously transmitted frames (that failed to be decoded) to be combined with the retransmission. This combining strategy provides improved decoding efficiencies and diversity gains while minimizing the need for additional repeat requests.

While the spreading factor may be fixed, the coding rate may vary between ¼ and ¾, and the HSDPA specification supports the use of five, 10 or 15 multicodes. More robust coding, fast HARQ, and multi-code operation eliminates the need for variable spreading factor and also allows for more advanced receiver structures in the mobile such as equalizers as apposed to the traditional RAKE receiver used in most CDMA systems. This approach may also allow users having good signal quality or higher coding rates and those at the more distant edge of the cell having lower coding rates to each receive an optimum available data rate.

By moving data traffic scheduling to the base station 122, and thus closer to the air interface, and by using information about channel quality, terminal capabilities, QoS, and power/code availability, HSDPA may achieve more efficient scheduling of data packet transmissions. Moving these intelligent network operations to the base station 122 allows the system to take full advantage of short-term variations, and thus to speed and simplify the critical transmission scheduling process. The HSDPA approach may, for example, manage scheduling to track the fast fading of the users and when conditions are favorable to allocate most of the cell capacity to a single user for a very short period of time. At the base station 122, HSDPA gathers and utilizes estimates of the channel quality of each active user. This feedback provides current information on a wide range of channel physical layer conditions, including power control, ACK/NACK ratio, QoS, and HSDPA-specific user feedback.

While WCDMA Release 99 or WCDMA Release 4 may support a downlink channel (DCH) or a downlink shared channel (DSCH), the HSDPA operation provided by WCDMA Release 5 may be carried on a high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH). This higher-speed approach uses a 2-ms frame length, compared to DSCH frame lengths of 10, 20, 40 or 80 ms. DSCH utilizes a variable spreading factor of 4 to 256 chips while HS-DSCH may utilize a fixed spreading factor of 16 with a maximum of 15 codes. HS-DSCH may supports 16-level quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM), link adaptation, and the combining of retransmissions at the physical layer with HARQ. HSDPA also leverages a high-speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) to carry the required modulation and retransmission information. An uplink high-speed dedicated physical control channel (HS-DPCCH) carries ARQ acknowledgements, downlink quality feedback and other necessary control information on the uplink.

FIG. 1 d is a chart illustrating exemplary average carried loads for HSDPA-based macrocell and microcell systems, in connection with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to chart 130 in FIG. 1 d, in practical deployments, HSDPA more than doubles the achievable peak user bit rates compared to WCDMA Release 99. With bit rates that are comparable to DSL modem rates, HS-DSCH may deliver user bit rates in large macrocell environments exceeding 1 Mbit/s, and rates in small microcells up to 5 Mbit/s. The HSDPA approach supports both non-real-time UMTS QoS classes and real-time UMTS QoS classes with guaranteed bit rates.

Cell throughput, defined as the total number of bits per second transmitted to users through a single cell, increases 100% with HSDPA when compared to the WCDMA Release 99. This is because HSDPA's use of HARQ combines packet retransmission with the earlier transmission, and thus no transmissions are wasted. Higher order modulation schemes, such as 16-QAM, enable higher bit rates than QPSK-only modulation in WCDMA Release 99, even when the same orthogonal codes are used in both systems. The highest throughput may be obtained with low inter-path interference and low inter-cell interference conditions. In microcell designs, for example, the HS-DSCH may support up to 5 Mbit/s per sector per carrier, or 1 bit/s/Hz/cell.

FIG. 2 a is a block diagram of an exemplary single antenna receiver system for HSDPA maximum ratio combining and equalization switching, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 a, there is shown a chip matched filter block 202, a cluster path processor (CPP) block 204, a maximum ratio combining (MRC) block 208, an equalization (EQ) block 206, an HSDPA switch 210, a despreader block 212, a noise estimation and common pilot channel despreader block 214, a signal to noise (SNR) averaging block 216, and a maximum ratio combining and equalization selection and decision control block 218. The CPP block 204 may further comprise a plurality of CPPs 204 a . . . 204 n. The despreader block 212 may further comprise a plurality of despreaders 212 a . . . 212 n. The noise estimation and common pilot channel despreader block 214 may further comprise a noise estimation for MRC block 214 a, a common pilot channel despreader for MRC block 214 b, a noise estimation for EQ block 214 c, and a common pilot channel despreader for EQ block 214 d. The SNR averaging block 216 may further comprise an SNR average block for MRC 216 a, and an SNR average block for EQ 216 b.

The chip matched filter block 202 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to filter a received digital signal and to produce complex in-phase and quadrature phase components (I, Q) of the filtered digital signal. In this regard, in an embodiment of the invention, the chip matched filter block 202 may comprise a pair of digital filters that are adapted to filter the I and Q components to within, for example, the 3.84 mHz bandwidth of W-CDMA baseband.

The cluster path processor (CPP) block 204 may comprise a plurality of cluster processors that may be adapted to receive and process an output of the chip matched filter block 202. A signal cluster may comprise an aggregate of individual distinct path signals received over a specified time interval, where the specified time interval may be of sufficient length to permit a plurality of individual distinct path signals to be received prior to the transmission of a subsequent signal cluster. The cluster path processors 204 a, . . . , 204 n within the cluster path processor 204 block may be partitioned into pairs of processors, wherein each pair of processors is allocated to a single base station transmit signal. Each base station may transmit from two antennas. The CPP block 204 may track the multipath signal cluster transmitted from each base station transmit antenna. The CPP 204 may also compute complex estimates of the time varying impulse response of the RF channel, or “channel estimates”, where the channel estimates may represent estimations of the actual time varying impulse response of the RF channel per base station transmit antenna, the estimates are denoted ĥ₁ and ĥ₂. Corresponding lock indicators L₁ and L₂ may also be generated by the CPP 204. The lock indicators may provide an indication of which components in the corresponding estimates comprise valid component values. In one embodiment of the invention, cluster path processors 204 a, . . . , 204 n may be configured to operate in pairs when a transmitted signal is transmitted by two antennas, where the two antennas may be located in the same base station, or at different base stations. The configurations in which a receiving antenna receives signals from two transmitting antenna may be described as “receiving modes” in the W-CDMA standard. These receiving modes may comprise closed loop 1 (CL1), close loop 2 (CL2), and space time transmit diversity (STTD). The cluster path processor block 204 may be adapted to assign cluster path processors from the CPP block 204 on a per base station basis.

The maximum-ratio combining block 208 may comprise a plurality of maximum-ratio combiners. Similarly with the cluster path processors 204, maximum ratio combiners in the maximum-ratio combining block 208 may be assigned on a per base station basis, with the maximum ratio combiners in the maximum-ratio combining block 208 communicating with cluster path processors 204 a . . . 204 n that may be assigned to the same base stations. Maximum ratio combiners in the maximum-ratio combining block 208 may receive timing reference signals, T, and channel estimates and lock indicators, (ĥ₁,L₁) and (ĥ₂,L₂), from the corresponding cluster path processor blocks 204 a . . . 204 n, which may be utilized by the maximum-ratio combining block 208 to process received signals from the chip matched filter block 202. The maximum ratio combining block 208 may utilize channel estimate components in accordance with the corresponding lock indicator, utilizing channel estimate components that are valid in accordance with the corresponding lock indicator. Channel estimate components that are not valid, in accordance with the corresponding lock indicator, may not be utilized. The maximum-ratio combining block 208 may be adapted to provide a combining scheme or mechanism for implementing a rake receiver which may be utilized with adaptive antenna arrays to combat noise, fading, and, co-channel interference.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, each of the maximum ratio combiners in the maximum-ratio combining block 208 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to add individual distinct path signals, received from the assigned RF channel, together in such a manner to achieve the highest attainable signal to noise ratio (SNR). The highest attainable SNR may be based upon a maximal ratio combiner. A maximal ratio combiner is a diversity combiner in which each of the multipath signals from all received multipaths are added together, each with unique gain. The gain of each multipath before summing can be made proportional to the received signal level for the multipath, and inversely proportional to the multipath noise level. Each of the maximum-ratio combining blocks may be also adapted to utilize other techniques for signal combining such as selection combiner, switched diversity combiner, equal gain combiner, or optimal combiner.

In various embodiments of the invention, the assignment of fingers in the maximum-ratio combining block 208 may be based on the timing reference signal, T, from the cluster path processor block 204. The proportionality constants utilized in the maximum-ratio combining block 208 may be based on the valid channel estimates, ĥ₁ and ĥ₂, from the cluster path processor block 204.

The equalizer, or equalization, block 206 may comprise suitable logic circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to effectively transform the channel from a frequency selective channel to a flat fading channel. In this regard, the equalization block 206 may be adapted to utilize, for example, an adaptive algorithm to adaptively calculate weights and iteratively search for an optimal weight solution. The equalization block 206 may comprise a plurality of equalizers. Similarly with the cluster path processors 204, equalizers in the equalization block 206 may be assigned on a per base station basis, with the equalizers in the equalization block 206 communicating with cluster path processors 204 a . . . 204 n that may be assigned to the same base stations. The equalization block 206 may receive channel estimates and lock indicators, (ĥ₁,L₁) from the corresponding cluster path processor 204 a . . . 204 n, which may be utilized to calculate weights. The equalization block 206 may utilize channel estimate components in accordance with the corresponding lock indicator, utilizing channel estimate components that are valid in accordance with the corresponding lock indicator. Channel estimate components that are not valid, in accordance with the corresponding lock indicator, may not be utilized. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the equalization block 206 may be adapted to utilize, for example, a least mean square (LMS) algorithm for the weight calculation. The LMS algorithm may provide a good compromise between implementation complexity and performance gains. Notwithstanding, the invention is not limited in this regard, and other weight calculation algorithms may be utilized.

The HSDPA switch block 210 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to take decision and/or selection output signals from the maximum ratio combining and equalization selection and decision control block 218 and generate an output signal that may be based on selection of either a received input signal from the maximum ratio combining block 208, or a received input signal from the equalization block 206.

The noise estimation blocks 214 a and 214 c, may comprise processors to utilize a received dedicated pilot signal from the MRC 208 and EQ 206, respectively. The dedicated pilot processing is inherent to W-CDMA operation, and one skilled in the art can construct a noise estimate using the dedicated pilot as input. The common pilot channel despreader blocks 214 b and 214 d may construct a signal estimate by post processing the common pilot channel signal received from the MRC 208 and EQ 206, respectively. After post processing the channel appears flat, and allows an estimate of the signal to be derived.

The noise estimation and common pilot channel despreader block 214 may take inputs from MRC block 208, and/or the equalizer block 206. The SNR estimates when taken from the output of the MRC 208 and equalizer 206 are what is referred to as “post-processing” outputs. The output from the noise estimation block 214 a, and the common pilot channel despreader block 214 b may be further processed by the SNR averaging block for MRC 216 a to generate the post-processing output associated with the MRC block 208. The output from the noise estimation block 214 c, and the common pilot channel despreader block 214 d may be further processed by the SNR averaging block for EQ 216 b to generate the post-processing output associated with the EQ block 206. By processing output of the MRC 208 and equalizer 206 to obtain signal and noise parameters in the channel, a mode select signal may be generated by the decision control block 218 by thresholding the SNR estimates from the MRC 208 and EQ 206, respectively. The mode select signal may be utilized by the HSPDA switch 210 to select input from either the EQ 206 or MRC 208 to be communicated to the despreader block 212 for subsequent processing.

The decision control block 218 may also be used to communicate control of equalization computation. Based on the SNR estimates generated by the post processing output, it may be advantageous to disable the equalizer computation thus saving power. When operating the MRC 208 only, the computed SNR of the post processing output associated with the MRC 208 may rise, exceeding the threshold required to switch on the equalizer 206 and improve the system performance.

The despreader block 212 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to despread received signals that had previously been spread through the application of orthogonal spreading codes in the transmitter. Prior to transmission of an information signal, known as a “symbol”, the transmitter may have applied an orthogonal spreading code that produced a signal comprising a plurality of “chips”. The despreader block 212 may be adapted to generate local codes, for example Gold codes or orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) codes, that may be applied to received signals through a method which may comprise multiplication and accumulation operations. Processing gain may be realized after completion of integration over a pre-determined number of chips over which the symbol is modulated.

FIG. 2 b is a block diagram illustrating exemplary MRC operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 b, the maximum-ratio combining (MRC) block 250 may comprise a plurality of adders 252, . . . , 256, a plurality of multipliers 258, . . . , 264, and a plurality of delay blocks 266, . . . , 270. In one embodiment of the invention, the MRC block 250 may receive a plurality of channel estimates h_(ik) (i=0,1, . . . , L-1) from a corresponding cluster path processor block. For example, the MRC block 250 may receive estimate vectors ĥ₁ and ĥ₂ of the actual time varying impulse response of a channel, from a cluster path processor. Each of the estimate vectors ĥ₁ and ĥ₂ may comprise a cluster grid of channel estimates h_(ik) (i=0,1, . . . , L-1), where L may indicate the width of the cluster grid of estimates and may be related to the delay spread of the channel.

In operation, the MRC block 250 may be adapted to implement the following equation:

${{mrc}_{k} = {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{L - 1}\;{h_{L - 1 - i} \cdot {rx}_{k - i}}}},$ where mrc_(k) is the output of the MRC block 250, h_(L-1-l) is the plurality of channel estimates corresponding to a channel estimate vector, such as ĥ₁ and ĥ₂, and rx_(k) is a filtered complex input signal. The MRC block 250 may be adapted to add individual distinct path signals together in such a manner to achieve a high signal to noise ratio (SNR) in an output signal mrc_(k).

The MRC block 250 may receive a filtered complex signal rx_(k) from a chip matched filter (CMF), for example. The filtered complex signal rx_(k) may comprise in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components of a received signal. Furthermore, the filtered complex signal rx_(k) may be gated by cluster path processor (CPP) output strobes derived from a CPP timing reference, for example. Channel estimates h_(ik) (i=0,1, . . . , L-1) may be applied to the CMF output rx_(k) beginning with the last in time, h_(L-1), and proceeding with channel estimates h_(L-2), . . . , h₀, utilizing multiplier blocks 258, . . . , 264, respectively. The filtered complex input signal rx_(k) may be continuously delayed by delay blocks 266, . . . , 270. Each delayed output of the delay blocks 266, . . . , 270 may be multiplied by the multiplier blocks 260, . . . , 264, respectively, utilizing corresponding channel estimates hi_(k). The outputs of the multipliers 252, . . . , 256 may be added to generate the output signal mrc_(k), thereby implementing the above-referenced MRC equation.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for output selection in a single antenna receiver system HSDPA, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. With reference to FIG. 3, in step 302 channel estimates and a timing reference signal may be generated. In step 304, signal and noise estimates may be computed based on a signal received from the maximum ratio combining block 208 and the equalization block 206, respectively. A mode select signal may be generated. In step 306, the HSDPA switch 210 may utilize the mode select signal to select an input signal received from either the EQ 206, or the MRC 208. An output signal may be generated based on the selected input signal. In step 310, the output signal generated by the HSDPA switch 210 may be despread by the despreader 212.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software may be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method for processing radio frequency (RF) signals, the method comprising: performing by one or more processors and/or circuits: computing channel estimates based on at least one of a plurality of received individual distinct path signals; equalizing said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals; combining said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals; computing at least one estimated signal to noise ratio; selecting one of: said equalized said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals, and said combined said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals, based on said computed at least one estimated signal to noise ratio; and disabling subsequent equalizing when selecting said combined said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said equalizing is based on said computed channel estimates.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said combining is based on said computed channel estimates.
 4. The method according to claim 1, comprising computing at least one of: a noise estimate, and a signal level estimate based on said combined said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals.
 5. The method according to claim 1, comprising computing at least one of: a noise estimate, and a signal level estimate based on said equalized said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals.
 6. The method according to claim 1, comprising computing said at least one estimated signal to noise ratio based on a computed noise estimate and a computed signal level estimate based on said combined said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals.
 7. The method according to claim 1, comprising computing said at least one estimated signal to noise ratio based on a computed noise estimate and a computed signal level estimate based on said equalized said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals.
 8. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating a mode selection signal based on said at least one estimated signal to noise ratio.
 9. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting said one of: said equalized said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals, and said combined said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals, based on a mode selection signal.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said equalizing is based on said at least one estimated signal to noise ratio.
 11. The method according to claim 1, comprising computing one or more weights based on least mean square weight calculation during said equalizing.
 12. A system for processing radio frequency (RF) signals, the system comprising: a cluster path processor that is operable to compute channel estimates based on at least one of a plurality of received individual distinct path signals; an equalizer that is operable to equalize said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals; a maximum ratio combiner that is operable to combine said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals; a signal to noise averaging processor that is operable to compute at least one estimated signal to noise ratio; an HSDPA switch that is operable to select one of: said equalized said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals, and said combined said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals, based on said computed at least one estimated signal to noise ratio; and said equalizer is operable to be disabled when selecting said combined said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals.
 13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said equalizing is based on said computed channel estimates.
 14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said combining is based on said computed channel estimates.
 15. The system according to claim 12, comprising a noise estimation and common pilot channel despreader that is operable to compute at least one of: a noise estimate, and a signal level estimate based on said combined said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals.
 16. The system according to claim 12, comprising a noise estimation and common pilot channel despreader that is operable to compute at least one of: a noise estimate, and a signal level estimate based on said equalized said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals.
 17. The system according to claim 12, wherein said signal to noise averaging processor is operable to compute said at least one estimated signal to noise ratio based on a computed noise estimate and a computed signal level estimate based on said combined said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals.
 18. The system according to claim 12, wherein said signal to noise averaging processor is operable to compute said at least one estimated signal to noise ratio based on a computed noise estimate and a computed signal level estimate based on said equalized said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals.
 19. The system according to claim 12, comprising a maximum ratio combining and equalization selection and decision control processor that is operable to generate a mode selection signal based on said at least one estimated signal to noise ratio.
 20. The system according to claim 12, wherein said HSDPA switch is operable to select said one of: said equalized said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals, and said combined said at least one of said plurality of individual distinct path signals, based on a mode selection signal.
 21. The system according to claim 12, wherein said equalizing is based on said at least one estimated signal to noise ratio.
 22. The system according to claim 12, wherein said equalizer is operable to compute one or more weights based on least mean square weight calculation during said equalizing. 